Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-22
Bill Nye at the MinstrelS.

=
New York World.
The menu of melody and merrimens at
Dockstader's last evening opened out
with an overture by the entire company
clothed in full dress, with black satin
knickerbockers and black hose. That is,
the company-not the overture. Mr..
Monico then emitted a baritone solo
called "Little Sailor Tom" and Mr.. Lew
Dockstader sang topical song entitled
"Never, in the Wide, Wide World" This
song may not live long enough to start
Oft some future Donnelly on an investi-
CATION as TO whether MIR. Edward Z. Kid
der or some other fluent poet wrote it,
but 1t was success, and Mr.. Dockstader
was kept busy adding on new verses until
he was tired.
Along about this time the converse
tion on the part of Messrs. Dockstader,
Rankin and Moreland drifted into the
direction of kissing, and Mr.. Dockstader
alluded to the act in way calculated to
call attention to General William T.
Sherman, who sat in the box within ten
inches of the end man. The able and
efficient warrior blushed bright pink
from tbs top of his large, rectangular
head to the roots of his reddish-grey
Whiskers.
Mr.. Jose then sang an alto song called
'The Song That Reached My Heart" 1t
was touchful song and several big
strong men went out to shed sear after
it was over. They came back eating pop
corn and in time to hear bass solo by
Mr.. Fillman, who has wonder command
of the lower notes. Mr. Rankin then
obliged with vocal monologue. assisted
by his voice entitled, "Simply NotLs sng
at ALL" It was funny, and great many
people were heard to smile in a sincere
way that compelled Mr.. Rankin to COM
pose some more songs. 1t was rare
treat to see the great composer think.
Then there was a tenoc solo by Mr..
Reiger and a pneumatic railway sketch,
some banjo business by Edward French,
a take-off on pugilism, Tootsie Wootsie
song by Mr.. Dockstader, more music on
dark blue xylophone, afterward the Fall
of the New Babylon. by the entire COM
pany.
In this part the student in ancient his.
tory will find much to interest him. The
scenery is wonderfully true to nature, the
gates of the city having the words 'push"
and "pull," together with the Kinks coat
of-arms emblazoned thereon.
The King is seen az preaching with his
retinue and another man, whose name is
not given Oh the bills. They converse in
low, measured tones and then go away to
hunt. 1t being Sunday, they start out
more especially to hunt for side doors.
The King wears plug hat and a heavy
head of whiskers, which he permits the
wind to sough through. A battering ram
is lead In by the horn, but last evening
refused to batter and seemed to "ball-
up" in his lines. He was then led away
the Persian army was repulsed. The
royal district messenger sleeps through
the attack and the standing army sits
down. Then the ballet comes on.
The ballet is not calculated to do great
he showed no symptoms of being SO. Al
though instantly secured by the unenviable
handouts, he had the presence of mind to
pass the watch unobserved into the
pocket Of a passer-by. This person was
so puzzled to know how he became the
possessor of the watch, and being afraid
of keeping the gift, was sufficiently honest
to hand it to the police. Another instance
of the remarkable GOODNESS and audacity
of a thief, though prehaps not an uncom-
mon one, is worth relating. One day a
Liverpool "stalk"-a man capable of do
ing mischief of any kind for trife-
having watched his opportunity, took up
a coat that hung outside pawrbroker's
shop. Flinging it over his arm, and
carrying it into the shop as if intending
to make purchase, he offered it for sale.
Not recognizeing ais owa property. the
pawnbroker bought the coat. But even
this did not satisfy the thief. He handled
some silk handkerchiefs, and in choosing
one, remarked carelessly: "Take pay for
this out of the money for the coat" "But
have given you the money" Indignantly
answered the pawnbroker. 90 no; you
haven't" said the thief. A warm alter
cation ensued. In vain the Snowman pro-
tested that he had paid the money; and
at last the thief went out in search of an
officer to settle the dispute, taking with
him some silver spoons, several silk
handkerchiefs, as well as the silk hand
kerchief in question, which in his excite
ment the broker had forgotten.
Once, for the writer's edifcatiOn,
young l2d, not more than Is years of age,
undertook to stand in a prominent
thoroughfare in Deeds and open ladies'
satchels as they passed, without being OBJ
served. He never failed once, but very
often succeeded in taking out their purses
also, which, of course, were immediatly
returned intact. It is often argued that
if taken from their evil associates, many
thieves would reform. 1T is very doubt
full; they love their nefarious orgies and
liberty too dearly.
PERSONALS